Looking at a '56 F-100 service truck

You will likely need to add a lead additive on fuel ups..
You are correct in the way the doors work but you can put a lock on the drivers side if you wish but will have to cut the hole in the door face..

I've had my 54 F100 with the original 239 Yblock since 1977. The engine was rebuilt in 1979. Years ago, like in the mid 80s, I put lead additive in it for a while. Then I stopped doing it. Then I joined FTE and we discussed this and researched it. The consensus is that unless you are hauling heavy loads daily or drag racing you don't need a lead additive.

I braved the snowstorms yesterday to travel the 400-mile round trip (that's a lot in these parts!) to view the beast. The vendor, Trevor, was very accommodating and a pleasure to meet and deal with. I was able to closely inspect the truck, and I'm happy to report that it's as solid as I'd hoped. Please see photos below for details.

The frame legs, firewall, front inner fender, cab corner, pedal area:

Cab floor:

Rear cab corner from inside (this is the 'worst' one):

Inside wheel well, looking forward to headlamp bowl dish:

Looking the other way towards the front cab corner, cab mount outrigger, rear of fender area:

I've had my 54 F100 with the original 239 Yblock since 1977. The engine was rebuilt in 1979. Years ago, like in the mid 80s, I put lead additive in it for a while. Then I stopped doing it. Then I joined FTE and we discussed this and researched it. The consensus is that unless you are hauling heavy loads daily or drag racing you don't need a lead additive.

My engine is running great after all these years.

Abe, your new heads have hardened seats. You can drag race now. Dennis

So, I haven't even got the truck home yet, and my mate Trevor phones me this morning to say he's at a swapmeet and has come across a pair of good F100 rear fenders - do I want them? He sends me a picture (below). All looks good, and the deal is done. Can't say as I like the colour scheme much, but that won't matter anyway as I will be finishing them to match the weathered appearance of the rest of the truck. I'm sure there will be plenty of headscratching to come when I try to figure out how they are going to hang on the sides of that utility body.

I'm already buying parts for a truck I haven't even got home yet. Is this a bad sign? Has "the bug" got me already? Or is this perfectly normal behaviour for people like us?